Getting The Topic Right

Necessities For Topic Selection

There is no rocket science to choosing topics for your narrative essays. Here are some factors you should mind before starting the writing:

• Narratives tell stories so the topic should allow that
• Stories should be relatable and exciting for the readers
• Experimenting is the key to getting the topic right
• Planning can be a time and effort saver

Brainstorming Sessions

Brainstorming is a millennia-old technique that writers use to improve their narrative writing or any other kind. It provides deep introspection of all the elements of the essay at play to make sure that the end product justifies its existence.

Even though the term is self-explanatory, many get it wrong.

• Before writing and starting a research, it is best to set a goal that must be achieved
• Jotting down all narrative ideas allows a better look at all of them
• What interests you the most will interest the readers
• Set theme and character of the overall story
• Draw a literary map, from the introduction to the conclusion   

Narrowing Down The Title

Just like the introduction, the title should play the role of a hook. It should have the foreshadowing element without revealing much. This way, readers will ask for more which will be a testament to the quality and grappling nature of the title.

Here are the traits of a good title:

• Catchy
• Believable
• Vigorous
• Moving
• Short      

From Planning To Writing

Honing The Essay Statement

The essay statement is the central point of the essay around which the content of the essay will pivot. Before getting started, it is necessary to nail the essay statement. Generally, the statement has the topic and the writer’s idea of how to define it in a new personal light.

In most cases, the thesis statement or essay statement appears at the end of the introduction of the essay, even the last sentence. This way, the writer lets the readers know what to expect in the succeeding paragraphs and sections.    

Outlining – Foreshadowing & Structure

Outlining the essay is stressed by everyone, and for all the right reasons. The primary purpose of outlining is to provide a rigid structure to still abstract thoughts. It will show the writer and later the reader;

• The order of the appearance of the paragraph
• What each paragraph will cover
• How the central idea of the narrative will go throughout the structure        

Pulling The Right Strings

After going through the lengthy outlining, brainstorming, and research session, it is time to put the meat and bones to the structure with the actual writing. First, the overall content should conform to the outline and theme of the essay set beforehand.

Second, if the experiments lead to better alternatives, then the outlines and other things should be altered accordingly. 

Backed Proofs & Evidence

Simply writing a narrative is not enough. To make it believable for readers and even your professor, it should be backed with solid proof and evidence. It can be tricky for novice writers to how they can provide proof in a personal narrative, but it can be done. 

Students can go through narrative essay examples to learn more about these.

Providing Complementary Examples

Many people find it hard to follow the events if they are not provided with a relatable example in every other section. This is true for the narrative essay as examples not only offer more clarity and understanding to readers, it also shows the ability of the writer to draw parallels between different situations and scenarios.   

Starting A Narrative Essay

This could be the most difficult part of the easiest part of the essay, depending on the topic, the outline, and the overall understanding of the writer of what is narrative writing.

The best way to start is to offer a palatable anecdote or a story. This prepares the readers and even makes them actively participate and become invested in the story. By reading the opening, they will start weaving comparisons and parallels for the story. That also helps if you want to surprise or shock the reader by flipping the script.

For instance, after providing the anecdote, you can make the case that the narrative will be opposite to its spirit. From word choice to puns and other techniques of writing, make sure that the starting has the power of the bang that draws readers in and keeps them interested throughout the body.

Giving Purpose To Your Narrative  

Hitting The Necessary “Whys”

Writing without purpose is useless. That’s why every narrative should have a visible purpose. For your essay, the apparent purpose is to tell a personal story based on an experience. It can be a loss, a tragedy, a blessing in disguise, and what have you.

But for the readers, you need to show why the story is important and why you need to tell it the way you are telling it. Much of this is subtle and fine but it should be potent so that it cannot be missed by the readers.

Many writers make the mistake of criticizing things or ideas they oppose or providing overwhelming evidence for the things they deem right. Since it is now an argumentative essay, writers do not need to persuade anyone.    

The Benefit For The Reader

The purpose of the narrative essay is to share the experience with the readers without making it too much personal. In terms of writing, the narrative should be moving as if it is tragic and revolves around loss, then the readers should feel the pain and even recall their loss. In the same way, the funny elements should put a smile on the face of the readers.

Without clear end goals and a central theme to follow, a narrative is lost to the readers and serves no purpose at all.  

Explaining The Central Idea

To define the purpose of writing, a thesis statement comes in handy. Since it is the brief input for the thought and side of the writer. In the beginning, the central idea or the thesis statement only gets a mentioning. Throughout the body of the essay, the central idea gets a subtle explanation.

Writers rely on great word choice, a series of events, and even examples and more anecdotes to further prove their position and make it clear to the reader what and why of the essay.